Illegal Pitch Called from off the field?

[Coach P]

Last week during a U14 PONY tournament game in Rhode Island, when in the 2nd, a loud voice was heard off the field calling an illegal pitch. The base and the home plate umpires both intially resisted and then were called over to the indivdulal who indentifed himself as the Umpire in Charge of the tourament where they briefly consulted and when the umpires took the filed and the plate umpire warned the pitcher on the illegal pitch. The U14 team coach questioned the Tourament Umpire, since he has never heard of any situation where an official off the field could interfere in the game, but was warned not to interfere that his authority and it was the last word.

I played men's fastpitch over 30 years and never heard or saw this ever occur. Can a tournament umpire off the field interfere in the way and is there a case that can be made here or was he just over jealous.

[hotmatt]

That would be my last game for this UIC. I probably would have to escorted out of the tourament after the game when I found him. I would never do that to another umpire and expect any other to do the same for during one of my games. I have no problem with between innings an umpire saying something to me and only me about something they might have seen. Case in point, last summer in an ASA tourny, I was PU between innings another Blue was sitting at the scorer's table behide the backstop. He quietly and discretely said it looked like the SS for the team that just left the field had an earring in. Sure enough she did. I told the 3rd base coach to have her remove it before she comes to the plate.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by hotmatt

That would be my last game for this UIC. I probably would have to escorted out of the tourament after the game when I found him. I would never do that to another umpire and expect any other to do the same for during one of my games. I have no problem with between innings an umpire saying something to me and only me about something they might have seen. Case in point, last summer in an ASA tourny, I was PU between innings another Blue was sitting at the scorer's table behide the backstop. He quietly and discretely said it looked like the SS for the team that just left the field had an earring in. Sure enough she did. I told the 3rd base coach to have her remove it before she comes to the plate.

I agree, if the UIC sees something that needs to be addressed during the game, it should be done between innings. It rarely, RARELY happens that I need to say something to the umpires during a game, but if absolutely necessary, I walk onto the field between innings with two bottles of water. The umpires get some cold water and I get to have a discreet chat.

Why did you make the player remove the earring?

[hotmatt]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Why did you make the player remove the earring?

My fault I should have said it was ASA rules with a "local" flair, i.e. some Fed. & NSA things thrown in. It wasn't a qualifier, just a fun throw together of 12u teams that didn't have anywhere else to play that weekend. The tournament rules had a "jewelery clause" in them. They also let them bat 11 with 2 EPs but used ASA pitching and re-entry rules.

[Coach P]

It was a Pony Qualifier in Bristol, RI for U12, U14 and U16. What does it state in the PONY tourament rules that a UIC? If you have the specific verbage, it would be helpful.

[hotmatt]

Sec. 6. UMPIRE’S JUDGEMENT. There will be no appeal from any decision of any
umpire on the grounds that he/she was not correct in his/her conclusion as to whether a
batted ball was fair or foul, a baserunner safe or out, a pitched ball a strike or ball, or on
any play involving accuracy of judgement; and no decision rendered by any umpire will
be reversed, except when he/she is convinced it is in violation of one of these rules. In case
the manager, captain or either team does not seek reversal of a decision based solely on
a point of rules, the umpire, whose decision is in question, will, if in doubt, confer with
his/her associates before taking any action. But under no circumstances will any player
or person, other than the manager or captain of either team, have any legal right to protest
any decision and seek its reversal on a claim that it is in conflict with these rules.
a. Under no circumstances will any umpire seek to reverse a decision made by his or
her associates; nor will any umpire criticize or interfere with the duties of his or her
associates, unless asked to do so.
b. The umpire-in-chief may rectify any situation in which the reversal of an umpire’s
decision or a delayed call by the umpire places a batter-runner, a baserunner, or the
defensive team in jeopardy. This correction is not possible after one pitch has been
thrown.

From the 2006 PONY Rules Book, page 99.

[CecilOne]

And that "umpire-in-chief" in "b" refers to the on-field leader of the crew, not an off-field tournament UIC.

[Coach P]

I think you right....as I read this the Chief Umpire is on the field.

So there is no confusion. That official is question was NOT working the game seemingly approached playing field as if someone had contacted him that the umpires working the game were not calling an illegal pitch. I don't know that but why else would he. He walked on the field, stopped play and verbally identified himself as the "Chief Umpire in Charge of the Tourament" and instructed the pitcher to stop the motion in question or she would be removed from the game. If this is allowed by the rules of PONY, it sets a precedent that could be abused by over zealous officials.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Coach P

I think you right....as I read this the Chief Umpire is on the field.

So there is no confusion. That official is question was NOT working the game seemingly approached playing field as if someone had contacted him that the umpires working the game were not calling an illegal pitch. I don't know that but why else would he. He walked on the field, stopped play and verbally identified himself as the "Chief Umpire in Charge of the Tourament" and instructed the pitcher to stop the motion in question or she would be removed from the game. If this is allowed by the rules of PONY, it sets a precedent that could be abused by over zealous officials.

Why would a tournament UIC need to identify himself to anyone?

[hotmatt]

Why would a tournament UIC need to identify himself to anyone?

Better question, why would a tournament UIC want to identify himsefl?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by hotmatt

Better question, why would a tournament UIC want to identify himsefl?

A tournament UIC should always be known to all. His/her presence reinforces the authority necessary to do the job properly.

[wadeintothem]

This UIC is more concerned with being the "big man" and tossing his weight around than using opportunities presented on the field to train his umpires.

I feel sorry for the umps that work for guys like that.